Abstract
ObjectiveShort term effects of acupuncture treatment for hot flashes (HF) in breast cancer patients have been demonstrated in several studies, including a randomized controlled trial, by the present authors. Results for the first 59 Tamoxifen medicated women receiving a 10 week course of acupuncture treatment have already been published. A significant reduction in the number of hot flashes was demonstrated both day and night, for up to three months following treatment in the women receiving traditional Chinese acupuncture. The control group receiving sham (minimal acupuncture) demonstrated a HF reduction only at night during treatment, however the effect did not remain significant during the following 12 weeks. The study was continued in order to investigate longer term effects of acupuncture treatment, and patient’s quality of life two years after treatment.Methods and materialsEighty patients, who had 2 years previously been randomized to either a course of 15 acupuncture treatments or sham acupuncture (control) over a period of 10 weeks, were asked to fill out a Kupperman index (KI) indicating health related quality of life.ResultsSixty one women returned KI questionnaires. A mixed models procedure with diagonal covariance matrix was used for statistical analyses. Baseline values between the sham-group and acupuncture group were not significantly different. However scores at the end of treatment and after 3 months showed a statistically significant difference between the groups, this difference lost its significance when scores were analyzed after 2 years.ConclusionAcupuncture seems to have a positive effect on health related quality of life for up three months post-treatment, this study suggests that these effects may be longer-term, however there was no significant effect 2 years later.
Highlights
As treatment of breast cancer becomes increasingly effective, more women are living with side effects due to postoperative interventions affecting their quality of life (Kronenberg 1994; Hervik and Mjåland 2010; Carpenter et al 2002)
Acupuncture seems to have a positive effect on health related quality of life for up three months post-treatment, this study suggests that these effects may be longer-term, there was no significant effect 2 years later
Seventy-eight percent of women taking Tamoxifen reported hot flashes as a side effect, and 52% reported night sweats in a survey investigating the prevalence of menopausal symptoms in women with breast cancer (Walker et al 2010)
Summary
As treatment of breast cancer becomes increasingly effective, more women are living with side effects due to postoperative interventions affecting their quality of life (Kronenberg 1994; Hervik and Mjåland 2010; Carpenter et al 2002). Women with breast cancer may undergo years of post-operative treatments including endocrine therapy, affecting their daily lives. Hormone therapy medication includes the estrogen antagonist Tamoxifen, and aromatsase inhibitors such as Arimidex, Aromasin and Femara. Seventy-eight percent of women taking Tamoxifen reported hot flashes as a side effect, and 52% reported night sweats in a survey investigating the prevalence of menopausal symptoms in women with breast cancer (Walker et al 2010). Hot flashes (HF) are considered to be the most bothersome side-effect of estrogen antagonist treatment, and are often accompanied by sweating, palpitations, dizziness, nausea and chills. Women treated with estrogen antagonists often report that HF at night disturb sleep patterns leading to insomnia and irritability
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